Thousand Cranes by Yasunari Kawabata

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Description edit see section history

With a restraint that barely conceals the ferocity of his characters' passions, one of Japan's great postwar novelists tells the luminous story of Kikuji and the tea party he attends with Mrs. Ota, the rival of his dead father's mistress. A tale of desire, regret, and sensual nostalgia, every... read more

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Characters/People edit see section history

Kikuji Mitani: The son of Mr.Mitani and the protagonist character in the novel.
Fumiko: Mrs. Ota's daughter.
Chikako Kurimoto: Formerly a mistress of Kikuji's father who continues to meddle in the affairs of Kikuji.
Mrs. Ota: She is a tea enthusiast. She was also a mistress for Kikuji's father during his last years and now is attracted to Kikuji as a means to remember his father.
Yukiko Inamura: A girl who is being proposed as a bride to Kikuji by Kurimoto.
Miss Kurimoto: Add a description of this character.
Mr. Mitani

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Setting & Locations edit see section history

First Sentence edit see section history

EVEN WHEN he reached Kamakura and the Engakuji Temple, Kikuji did not know whether or not he would go to the tea ceremony.

Table of Contents edit see section history

1. Thousand Cranes
2. The Grove in the Evening Sun
3. Figured Shino
4. Her Mother's Lipstick
5. Double Star

Themes & Symbolism edit see section history

Tea Ceremony: Describe this theme.

Series & Lists edit see section history

This is book 701 of 1286 in 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die. (authoritative list)

Authors & Contributors edit see section history

Yasunari Kawabata (Author)

Other Contributors:

Edward G. Seidensticker (Translator)
Fumi Komatsu (Illustrator)

First Edition edit see section history

Original Language: Japanese
Publisher: Kawabata Publishing
Country: Japan
Publication Date: 1952
ISBN: 9780679762652
Page Count: 147

Awards edit see section history

This novel is one of three novels cited by the Nobel Committee in awarding Yasunari Kawabata the Nobel Prize for Literature. The other two books are Snow Country and The Old Capital. (1968: Nobel Prize for Literature)

Classification edit see section history

Library of Congress: 59-6220
Dewey: 895.6344

Subjects edit see section history

Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › Mythology
Books › Literature & Fiction › World Literature › Japanese
Books › Literature & Fiction › Literary
Books › Literature & Fiction › Contemporary

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Thousand Cranes (1952) (edit title/settings)

by Yasunari Kawabata (Author) (edit contributors)